Like the rest of the country I am angered by the bureuacratic failures that ended up with Fiona Pilkington being driven to suicide. I also reflect on the responsibility that the 20,000 out of 60 million of us in this country who have the honour to be local councillors face to prevent such cases happening.

The worst culprit seems to be Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council, which styles itself: "A borough to be proud of." To quote the pop singer Heather Small: "What have you done today to make you feel proud?" I've just spoken to the Conservative opposition leader on the (Lib Dem controlled) Council, Cllr Ray Ward, who has agreed to write an article for us on the scandal. He believes the failings are "deeply ingrained."

But I've also written to Cllr David Parsons, the Conservative leader of Leicestershire County Council, on what "lessons could be learnt."